At least until your first Type ride! 
Adam
gulp
Robert,
First of all, congrats. I know you just passed and it probably hasnât even sunk in yet, but I have to ask since a lot of students feel overwhelmed by the pace of CFI training, how would you say you could have prepared better for the CFI checkride?
Tory
Thanks Tory, and great question. Itâs also a tough question since you kind of have to approach CFI in a way that makes sense for yourself, and thereâs only so much you can do in advance to prepare, but having said that, a few thoughts I have:
The biggest inherent challenge of CFI Academy is the pace and timing, Iâd say both for the ground school portion and the flying portion. There is a lot of pressure (some from ATP, some self-imposed) to have lesson plans put together by the end of the 2-week ground school, and I found those lesson plans to sometimes be a major source of stress as I was trying to figure out what would work for me. Most people use some form of pre-made lesson plans as a starting point, which I would also recommend, but hereâs the balance I found for myself: I used the Backseat Pilot lesson plans as my base, and was struggling a bit to figure out how best to tailor them for my personal use if a DPE asked me to teach a particular lesson. I would basically edit in the margins of the one-page high level summary all the talking points Iâd want to cover per the PTS, and in the process of doing that, really try to learn and bolster any material and knowledge areas I thought I was weaker on. I was still not confident that my lesson plans were in a good format, but realized that what I was getting comfortable with was just being able to teach any topic or task off the cuff, also knowing I could easily glance at my lesson plan notes to make sure Iâm hitting things if I forgot. The point is, focus on the knowledge more than the lesson plan format. That was ultimately where I wanted to be. If youâre just asked by a student (or DPE) about how differential ailerons work, you canât be too reliant on what youâve painstakingly compiled in a lesson plan, but should feel confident to talk about it with some level of authority, even if itâs not every detail that your full notes cover (my DPE asked me about differential ailerons on our preflight walkaround and I was glad I could explain the aerodynamics of reducing adverse yaw without looking at notes). I remember thinking that Iâd wished Iâd been using a layout like Backseat Pilot, which basically just compiles everything from the PHAK, Airplane Flying Handbook, etc., into one coherent outline for each topic, from day 1 as a student pilot, just to help me have the more encyclopedic knowledge that you need as a CFI.
In terms of the flying, the short time to get proficient can be exacerbated by having now not flown for about 4 weeks (sometimes more), then sitting in the right seat to fly, while also now having to teach through everything youâre doing, and then knowing you only have 3 flights to get it before your endorsement flight. First off, I strongly encourage everyone, starting in the Private stage, but especially during Commercial, to talk through what you are doing as you fly, land, perform maneuvers, etc. Getting comfortable doing that takes a whole aspect of CFI off your mind, because itâs fairly automatic by that point, itâs just a matter of refining some talking points (plus Iâd argue it helps you fly better during those earlier phases as well). My advice for during CFI is to go back to the basics and trust your instructor. In my mind I knew I was a commercial pilot, but thereâs a reason you have recency of experience requirements as a pilot. When you consider at ATP when weâre doing CFI weâve actually only been flying for about 6 months, a whole month without flying is not insignificant. Things you thought were automatic arenât necessarily automatic so quickly. Focus on every little basic detail as if youâre re-teaching yourself as a student (what sight picture youâre looking for on takeoff, how youâre looking at the wind to square up your pattern, keeping your nose pitched down as youâre making turns to base and final, etc.). Chances are you werenât thinking about those basic level details during crew or your commercial phase, but thinking about them will not only help you ensure your own smooth transition to the right seat, where everything does feel a bit different and in a way you are relearning, but make you a better teacher. Then trust that your CFI instructor has seen all the struggles before and can get you there. I got in my own head, which just made it more difficult. But I made it with their help.
So that was a long answer, Tory, but to sum up: focus from the beginning of your training on getting as solid a grasp on the aeronautical knowledge as you can, as if youâre training to be a CFIânot just a private pilotâfrom day 1, and practice talking/teaching as you fly from the very beginning. During CFI phase itself, itâs good to have nice tidy lesson plans, but focus mostly on really understanding the concepts, and for the flying itself, refocus on the basics and trust your instructors.
Hopefully thatâs helpful to someone!
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Robert,
First off congrats!! CFI is overwhelming recognized as the most difficult checkride of your ATP program. Thank you for the detailed and honest write up. This will help future CFI students to come. One part in particular I wanted to emphasize. You said, âfocus from the beginning of your training on getting as solid a grasp on the aeronautical knowledge as you can, as if youâre training to be a CFI.â Moving forward in your career, know that when you interview recruiters are looking at hiring future captains. When you start as a young, eager FO. Remember each day is a day training to become a captain.
-Hannah
Great advice Hannah. Thanks!
Robert,
Beautiful write up! This will absolutely help those that follow in your footsteps. Sorry it took so long to reply. In the middle of a move, but I wanted to get to yours first.
Backseat Pilot is exactly that, a good starting point. While it would be nice to show up to CFI school with hand written lesson plans, most students just donât have the time or the capacity to arrive to CFI school with their own lesson plans. The Backseat Pilot lesson plans provide you with a rough outline, but as you have experienced they require some personal touches so that when you are teaching from them it flows. I found that when I tried to teach from them they didnât sound like me at all. Shocker!
To tell you the truth, once I started teaching I actually took a completely different approach. The self-study lesson plans have significantly changed since I was a CFI with the integration of King Schools, but before those were implemented I was able to print every self study lesson for each phase of the program and I used each lesson as a checklist while also cross-referencing the ACS. Thatâs how I structured every ground lesson.
No matter what you end up doing, one piece of advice that I have for you is that when you do ground, keep notes on the âsatâ and âunsatâ knowledge items. Keep record of them how you see fit. I logged them in the notes whenever I logged ground. Then revisit those notes however often you need until the student is âsatâ on everything before their checkride. You can share the notes with the students too so they do the leg work at home. Just a suggestion. Everyone has their own method. It worked for me.
As for flying from the right seat, yeah thereâs not much you can do about that one haha. You have a finite number of hours to figure it out, but I do like your suggestion about being proactive as a student. Framing your mindset to be thinking like a CFI early on is smart.
Thanks again for the write up. I know that you have a couple more checkrides to go, but please keep in touch after the program. Always happy to help.
Tory
Thatâs great advice about logging grounds, Tory. Thanks. I will definitely incorporate that when I (hopefully) have my own students one day.
Good luck with your move! I appreciate you taking the time to respond with so much going on.
Robert
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After CFI Initial I took a few days off to recuperate, and I also took the opportunity to get my first vaccine shot. Itâs only 2 quick flights in the right seat before the CFII checkride, but with limited DPE availability today was the soonest I could get the checkride scheduled. Itâs a bittersweet feeling knowing Iâve officially taken my last flight in the Archer as an ATP student. On to commercial multi starting tomorrow!
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Robert,
I understand your sentiment but after you get in the Seminole your ditch your beloved Archer like itâs last period French!
Have fun!
Adam
Robert,
Congratulations on another check ride pass! You will love the Seminole, it is a great airplane.
Thank you for the update.
Chris
Robert,
Awesome news once again about your CFII ride 
. Listen to Adam and Chris when they say about loving the Seminole, they are not wrong!
The best advice I can give going forward is utilizing the sim when youâre not flying and doing sim events; finding a partner to work with and just practice going over the flows (this is also a good time to practice teaching a maneuver to one another since youâll be doing it for your MEI). The cleaner and smoother you get your flows for the Seminole down, the better theyâll be in the plane, resulting in the happier youâll be on your performance and time spent in the plane 
.
Brady
Defintely looking forward to the Seminole, especially with how much you guys have hyped it
Thanks for the advice, Brady. I will try to do that as much as I can.
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Robert,
Congrats!! Switching to the Seminole is really worth the hype. Itâs the first time youâll feel a bit of a push back in your seat on takeoff and the first time
Youâve had to think about multi engine aerodynamics. I canât stress getting in the sim enough⊠ask your instructor for the game plan for all 4 flights leading to your Checkride. Then make sure you can do everything for that flight in the sim before you go. For example, if you practice the flows for the maneuvers in the sim, the time spent in the airplane can be used to see how they feel and practicing to keep them within ACS tolerances. If youâre lost on the steps, youâre wasting precious flight time.
-Hannah
Passed my comm multi this morning and am coming to grips with only having a couple weeks and one checkride left at ATP. You guys were all correct, of courseâŠthe Seminole is a lot of fun, and simming has been super helpful for the flows, especially all the engine out procedures.
Getting my second vaccine shot tomorrow (and with it my 48 hours off), then on to MEI. Any pro tips for transitioning to the right seat in the Seminole?
Robert,
Congrats on yet another checkride pass!
Pro tip: donât overthink it. Itâs the same plane and you should have close to 200 hours by this point. Obviously your sight picture will be opposite than youâre used and your scan will be from a different angle, but the aerodynamic principles are all the same. Most (that I know of) figure it out rather quickly.
Tory
Robert,
Congrats! Another successful checkride down! Yeah like Tory said, donât overthink it. MEI should be the easiest checkride youâll take because itâs the same thing you just did from the right seat and explain as you go (you should be used to that by now, third CFI checkride). No matter what is happening, just keep your eye on the airplane. Block the rudder pedals practicing engine outs and block the quadrant when simulated engine failures down low.
-Hannah
Robert,
Congratulations! That is fantastic news!
My best tip for going to the right seat would be to not worry too much about it. The airplane flies the same, you are just using different hands. Also, get used to the right seat because hopefully you will be in an RJ right seat soon!
Thank you for the update.
Chris
Robert,
Awesome news on passing your commercial Multi-Engine add-on, up next is the last and final checkride youâll have at ATP! All the advice from prior mentors is 100% accurate, as youâve done for previous ratings, talk through everything and always verify before doing.
Brady
I can finally report that I have completed the program! MEI ended up taking longer than anticipated with maintenance and weather delays, and then to compound it I busted the checkride 
. I was so frustrated with myself and sick to my stomach that I had made it 6 for 6 and then lost focus for a second and let a few silly mistakes cost me on my very last checkride. MEI of all things. Mistakes that I literally have never made before. After waiting through an excruciatingly long week, I did my recheck today and everything went great. Sure, I canât help but think of how I should have had it the first time around, but it nevertheless ended up being a good and valuable learning experience, and will make me a better pilot. Hey, the other silver lining is I was able to get a few more hours of multi time, right?
It will be strange waking up tomorrow as an ATP graduate instead of an ATP student. Itâs definitely bitter sweet, as Iâve spent the last 9+ months so focused on this goal and itâs suddenly in the rear view mirror. Iâve made great friendships at ATP that will last a lifetime.
I donât know yet if ATP will place me in the hiring pool, but in the meantime it looks like Iâve secured a position instructing in Williamsburg, VA, flying Cessnas, so I am excited about that.
As I close out this thread documenting my progression through the program I want to once again thank the mentors and others who have commented and provided advice and guidance. It sounds trite, but I literally wouldnât have reached this point without your guidance, so I thank you.
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